Background
Whether it's been in bands, choirs, or bagpipe bands, Jason Matteson has been making music for more than three decades. Learning how to pipe with the Mohawk Valley Frasers from Rome, NY was the single most transformative experience in Jason's life, and since then he has pursued music making in many ways. As a piper, Jason continued to be a member of the Mohawk Valley Frasers until 2020 where he moved to Tennessee to earn a Masters in Music degree in choral conducting at Austin Peay State University, At this time he started to perform with the Nashville Pipes and Drums, eventually being elected as Senior Pipe Major in 2023. Jason has performed for countless private weddings and funerals, and has had the pleasure of performing as a soloist with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Le Moyne Opera, and the Elders. As a member of the Frasers, Jason also performed with the Chieftains. Competition Jason has competed with bagpipe bands for more than 25 years, with a majority of those years being a key player in grade 3 bands. Jason has also competed with both grade 4 and grade 5 bands as a piper, piping instructor, snare drummer, tenor drummer and bass drummer. In addition to being a musician, Jason has also competed as professional Drum Major since 2009, and has earned many championships and champion supreme titles along the way. Individual Instruction Having worked with students since 2000, Jason’s approach to teaching the bagpipes is built on a solid foundation of precise fingerwork, reading music and building musicianship skills along the way. This approach to instruction is built into a comprehensive program in which the student learns not only to execute properly but continually builds on a set of skills that include: listening, reading, writing, and improvising bagpipe music. Not only are these musical skills addressed within his instruction; varied historical perspectives, personal experience, competition and many other topics will be introduced from time to time to offer a broader knowledge of the bagpipe world. |